Walker Hotel Greenwich Village

Time Out says

3 out of 5 stars

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Users say

Time Out says

3 out of 5 stars

There are few places to hide in New York City. Every resident lusts for a quiet escape from the ever-bustling metropolis—which is just the reason to stay at the small boutique hotel Walker Hotel Greenwich Village.

Occupying a tall sliver of West 13th Street in the West Village, the narrow 18-floor hotel is very well suited to New Yorkers looking for a staycation in one of Manhattan's most popular nabes. From the sidewalk, descend a set of stairs into the intimate lobby (which the hotel calls the Poets Room) filled with comfy couches and small café tables. Just beyond that is Society Cafe, a restaurant with wood-toned decor brightened with teal leather booths and a long skylight. From the kitchen, executive chef Christopher Zabita (Bar Boulud, Marc Forgione) pushes beautifully presented market-to-table dishes, including an appetizer of tender Portuguese octopus, artichokes and crispy crushed potatoes ($18). The coq au vin ravioli special on a recent night was also a standout dish, the house-made squares covered in a garlicky wine sauce with mushrooms, a creative blend of French and Italian cuisines ($18). The one letdown of the evening was the side of broccoli rabe with tahini that arrived unbearably salty ($12). Unfortunately, the service at Society Cafe does not match the food: Order room service (for a slight price increase) and enjoy your meal away from the eager yet poorly trained waitstaff.

If you only need basic comforts and plan on spending your time exploring the city, a standard room will do you just fine. The simple yet luxurious Art Deco–style rooms offer a soft bed with Frette linens that takes up much of the room, as well as a TV and Tivoli Bluetooth-enabled stereos, a desk and a bathroom equipped with C.O. Bigelow products.

However, for those who want a room in which to spend some serious down time, opt for a terrace room. The bigger space comes with a stunning bathroom with a showeranda massive tub, a real rarity in most NYC hotel rooms. The terrace is large enough to fit a circular wooden table and chairs, so you can enjoy the unobstructed view of the Empire State Building in the morning while eating breakfast (we highly recommend the olive oil pancakes with candied pecans and Chantilly cream, despite the $18 price tag) in your white fluffy robe.

TIME OUT TIP:You’re in Greenwich Village! There are many wonderful spots at which to eat, drink or enjoy yourself, but we recommend hitting Smalls Jazz Club: A $20 cash cover at the door gets you hours of tunes from professional musicians, in a small, intimate space.